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In the sharply dressed, stunningly colorful, picture-effing-perfect world of Mad Men, there is rarely a hair out of place. That’s particularly true for Christina Hendricks’s character, Joan, the ad-agency partner whose strawberry strands are as polished as the office’s bottomless supply of cocktail glasses. Of course, we can’t all be Christina Hendricks. (Sigh.) But according to Terra Therapos, a colorist at Chicago’s award-winning Circle Salon, we can all be redheads. It’s just an issue of choosing the right shade. “The level of lightness to darkness can vary, but I believe that anyone can wear red or a color that has red in it,” Terra said.
But when shades of red hair range from strawberry blond to deep burgundy, how do you know which one is right for you? It’s (fairly) simple. Here are three factors to keep in mind when going red, as well as what you can expect for maintaining your new color.
1. Your natural hair color.
This is important for both aesthetic and scientific reasons. “Stay close to your hair’s natural level and work with the tones that naturally exist at that level,” Terra said. Blonds should consider light copper or strawberry blond; brunettes can play with mahogany and other red-browns.
Not only will this naturally complement your features, it also won’t upset the laws of science. As Terra explained it, red is the smallest molecule in the color spectrum. So if, for example, you’re a blond, you would need a lot of synthetic color to achieve a deep, dark red. But your hair already contains plenty of blond pigment, and there simply isn’t room for it all. “No matter what your colorist does, the hair will always fade back to a lighter shade,” she said.
2. Your undertone.Honoring your skin’s natural tone is the best way to ensure your red hair will look sultry, not scary. “Try not to oppose your skin tone with your hair color because you can look washed out,” Terra advised. (Figure out your undertone here.)
For those with yellow undertones, Terra recommends a red “that has warmth in it, like a golden copper, auburn, or brown red.” She cited Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Debra Messing (pictured at right) as examples.
If you have pink undertones, you should aim for something cooler. Think Nicole Kidman’s strawberry blond or the ruby red sported by Karen Elson (pictured above) and Florence Welch. If your hair is naturally darker, mahogany can be beautiful as well.
Neutral undertones work with most any color. Think about it—Jessica Chastain (pictured at left), Amy Adams, and Emma Stone all have neutral skin tones but have all pulled off very different shades of red hair. If this is you, use your natural hair color and eye color (more on that in a second) as your guides instead.
3. Your eye color.Although it’s a less important factor to consider, the right shade of red can really play up your eyes. Let’s circle back to Christina Hendricks (pictured at right). Because orange and blue are complementary colors, her hair and eyes make for a striking match.By that same token, green’s complementary color is red. So good news, green-eyed girls: your peepers will pop against most any red tones. Brown eyes, like brown hair, will warm to warmer hues, like golden copper or auburn.How to maintain your red
Remember what Terra said earlier about red being the smallest color molecule? That also means it takes less time for those molecules to fade away. “Red hair tends to have the most noticeable fading of all hair colors,” Terra said. “Expect to visit the salon more often to keep it looking its best.” For more vibrant shades, she estimated touchups every four to six weeks.
To combat color fade as much as possible, Terra recommends staying vigilant about your hair’s health. Use products with UVA and UVB protection on sunny days, and shop for moisturizing shampoos and conditioners that are loaded with antioxidants. You can also try pigmented shampoos and conditioners (like the red or copper versions from Davines), which will actually add color to your hair with every wash.
Oh, and one last thing—if you’re gonna go red, really embrace it. “I do believe that there is a red for everyone,” Terra said. “But it definitely takes the right personality and vote of confidence to wear it well.”
Photos courtesy of the Instagrams of Karen Elson, Debra Messing, and Jessica Chastain and the Facebook page of Christina Hendricks. Photo illustration by Becca Murray, Groupon.Embrace red from head to toe with these articles:Find the Right Red Lipstick for Your Skin ToneHow to Wear Marsala, Pantone’s Color of the Year, All Year Long

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Washing your hair is one of life’s most pedestrian tasks, one that you’d think most people would know how to do as adults. But if you’re lathering the entire length of your hair and repeating that process every 1–2 days, then heads up: you’re probably doing it wrong.We talked to San Francisco stylist (and hair-trend forecaster) Kristina Louise Welzien about how to wash your hair like a pro, including the best practices for sudsing longer strands.First, figure out your hair type—but not on your own.
You might think that you already know your hair type, but it’s not always as obvious as it seems. Kristina specializes in highly textured hair, and notes that two women with the same curl pattern might have completely different weights to their hair. She recommends asking your stylist or barber to be sure, as your hair type will help determine your washing process.If your hair is oily to normal … “That’s the most common scenario, that the ends of the hair are typically much drier [than the roots] and therefore they need special care. But at the same time, people want that fresh, clean feeling at the scalp,” Kristina said. In this case, you should take a dab of shampoo and massage it lightly into your scalp. You don’t generally need to pull shampoo through your entire head of hair—as the lather rinses down, that’ll be enough to cleanse the length. You’ll want to do the opposite with your conditioner: apply it from the midshaft down, using a formula that supports curls or color if necessary. “[Not putting conditioner on the top of your head] will support the scalp from becoming oily throughout the day,” Kristina said.If your hair is highly textured or very dry … Hair that’s very curly, particularly black hair, can go much longer without being washed. “Maybe shampoo once a month as a nice way to clarify the scalp from buildup of product,” Kristina said. “Otherwise, there’s really no shampooing that’s going on, and it’s all about the conditioning of the scalp and hair.” Just conditioning might seem like it would weigh your hair down, but the simple act of rinsing actually removes a lot of oil. “Any time you get the hair wet, you’re drying it out,” Kristina said. If you’re still feeling too greasy, though, you could try throwing in an apple cider vinegar rinse every once in awhile. It dissolves oil, is color-safe, and helps balance hair’s pH levels. Speaking of color: Kristina stressed that those who don’t color or heat-style their hair are hardly immune to dryness. “From the ponytail down, that hair’s been around for awhile, so it always needs conditioning.”
Don’t lather up at the first sign of oil. Seriously, resist.You might think that you’re doing yourself a favor by keeping your scalp oil-free, but that approach can actually be counterproductive. “If we use anything that’s too astringent or too cleansing and we use it too often, it can actually have a reverse effect where [hair] can get very dried out,” Kristina said. “This can actually produce more oil in the long run. Then you have this combination of really dry and really oily together, which are two characteristics that are really hard to battle at the same time.” Learning to live with your oil isn’t enough—you should learn to love it. “There’s not a hair mask or deep conditioner on the market that is as great as our own natural oil,” Kristina said.
Hungry for more hair knowledge?The Agony and the Ecstasy of Getting a HaircutSeven Questions You Wish You Could Ask Your Hairstylist

At most salons, a skilled stylist doesn't need a pair of scissors to transform a hairdo—expertly applied color is a makeover in itself, whether you’re getting subtle highlights or a striking ombre fade. Read on to learn more about these color treatments and whether they’re right for you. Full or Partial HighlightsThe precise application of highlights—which isolate select strands of hair and treat them with a color, lightener, or toner—can become the basis for a brand new look without a single snip or shear. Applied evenly throughout the entire head, full highlights create a natural look that mimics the way hair changes color over time in the sun, adding a sense of dimension and texture to the existing hair. Partial highlights, which are typically cheaper and take less time to apply, serve an altogether different purpose: drawing attention to specific features, such as bangs or newly sharpened antlers, by accenting only the locks on the surface. As a result, partial highlights are somewhat less flexible, and can lose their effect when you put your hair up or tease it out.Both full and partial highlights typically rely on caps or foil for their application. Balayage HighlightsBalayage involves a stylist hand-painting the highlights so that they look even more natural, with depth and dimension that resemble the effects of the sun. Balayage means "sweeping" in French, and is a reference to both the sweeping motions of the painting process and the small brooms used by Parisian stylists.Stylists take small sections of hair, place each one onto a backing board, and paint color or bleach onto the hair freehand with a brush. Then, cotton, paper, or plastic wraps are folded gently around the colored sections to separate them as they dry.When painting, stylists start at the middle of the strand and sweep out toward the root or tip. As a result, there is no severe line of color at the root and the grow-out is more natural looking, which translates into longer-lasting results. In fact, stylists usually recommend a touchup for balayage highlights every two to four months, as opposed to every six weeks for foil highlights. Photo courtesy of Ashley Rembulat.Although the technique has been around in France since the 1970s, celebrities such as Gisele Bundchen, Drew Barrymore, and Jessica Biel were among the first famous modern heads to popularize the look of balayage highlights. Often used on flowing hairstyles with loose curls or beachy waves, balayage highlights can be low-maintenance and natural or more extreme—but stylists say they tend to look most organic on hair longer than shoulder-length. The technique can add dimension to all hair colors. It's even ideal for unwanted gray: stylists can target gray strands more precisely, avoiding single-process color and its attendant stress on the scalp and on non-gray hairs.Ombre ColorTaken from the French for “shadow” or “shade,” ombre hair color features gradual, gradient shadings that imbue hair with an edgy aesthetic.Though the ombre style is suited to complexions of all shades, only careful consultation with a professional stylist can determine which colors will flatter your look or career as a chameleon herder. For example, those with darker skin can shoot for deep reds and coppers, while fairer tones can experiment with blondes and caramel colors. Daredevils of all skin types can turn to unnatural hues such as pink and blue for a more dramatic effect.After selecting your desired colors, the stylist will paint the darker shade onto the roots, and gradually transition to lighter hues towards the tips. Be forewarned that although the ombre look is similar to that of grown-out highlights, previously color-treated hair will often need at least some color correction to achieve the desired effect. Similarly, complex color combinations can require more frequent touch-ups to maintain this seemingly low-maintenance look. Color-treated shampoos and conditioners can help you get the most mileage out of ombre tresses, as can regular coats of gloss.Check out other experiments in hair color:Young Women Are Going Gray on Purpose and They Feel FineBarbara and Barbara owner Kara Wabbell shows us how it’s done.I Was Terrified to Try Pink HairSo I consulted a bartender, my mother, and a bus.